The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-06-16
Purity.

blessed are the pure in heart for
they shall see God" Such are the
words of one who spake as never man
spake, whose authority was divine. 10
be happy and blessed then, we must
seek for purity of heart and life, with
out which we cannot see God and
enjoy the fitness of His peace and
love which He has in store for US.
Purity of heart involves purity IN
life. in word, thought and deed; IN all
outward conditions and surroundings,
temporal as well as spiritual. Purity
of air, water, sunshine, food, rament,
are all essential conditions of health,
and he whose heart is pure and right
will regard these conditions as we'll tor
the body as the soul. Know We not
that We are the temple of the living
God? and he that defleth the temple,
him shall God destroy. Such is the
language of divine inspiration to the
children of men, and were these words
fully needed, how would peace and
10Y as a river flow and unite us, sor-
low and sighing fee away! Truly
awe are fearfully and wonderfully
made" Cleanse yourselves from all
flthiness Of the flesh and spirit perfect
ing holiness in the fear of the Lord,
says Paul; but how is the cleansing
process, preliminary to this important
end, to be gained, while the "temple
Of God " is being saturated and defled
with the deadly poison of tobacco,
opium, and Intoxicating beverages,
destroying alike both soul and body?
Whether therefore, We eat, or drink,
or whatsoever We do, do all to the
glory of God" Can the "glory Of
God" be advanced by destroying the
"temple of God?" Man, the crown
ing glory of creation, the noblest work
of God, and yet sIa0e, a voluntary
slave to the habits Of impurity and
vice, yet by his own choice and free
will go seek a place below the vilest
brute! Millions of property and lives
sacrificed that America might be free,
and still our Gland of liberty" land
of sIaqes! Consistency, thou art a
jewel.
The superior health and vigor Of the
Jews are attributable to their observ-
ance to Mosaic laws as regards clean
illness and purity of food, drink and
habits Of life generally; and shall the
Gentle world reject the old testament
as the Jews reject the new, forgetting
that "all scripture is given by inspira-
ton of Cod" and that we should
render full obedience to its commands?
Birds and beasts change not. Those
, unfit to be eaten in the times of Moses
t are unfit now, swine not excepted. As
bees Gull honey from poisonous flowers:
SO we may Gull some sweets, or lessons
of wisdom from the despised, outCa: I
! Jews.
t Is your cellar pure? How many
germs of disease are lurking there be-
: cause you have failed to properly drain
r and ventlate it, and remove the de-
cayed vegetation and other impurities
And the we'll or spring: how much filth
unseen or unrealized though it be, Is
permitted to enter there, until at last
it enters your life blood and become:
| part of your being, bringing you &c
an untimely grave? Do you regard
purity and cleanliness with reference
to food, clothing and other essential:
f of life? Is purity written in your
: every thought, word and deed;-ir
your character, your conscience, your
heart, mind and soul? Then surely
: heaM will be to you an abiding guest
t will pervade your entire being; viii
= add to your life, prosperity, happiness
] and length of days, and will be instru
l mental in gaining for you a passport
f to that better land where sickness and
f death come not, and where all tear:
: are wiped away. Purity is essentia
t to health and happiness, to holmes:
S and Heaven. Says the Psalmist-
| Who shall ascend into the hill of the
| Lord Or who shall stand in his holy
!, place? We that hath clean hands and
t a Pure heart.